Infrastructure, borders and pelicans could decide Pumicestone
With its incumbent LNP MP standing down and the electorate’s wafter-thin margin less than one per cent coming into the October election, this must-win Moreton Bay seat will come down to the wire. Here are the issues that matter in Pumicestone.
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LOCAL infrastructure, the handling of the pandemic and even pelicans could decide who will take out the must win seat of Pumicestone that both sides of politics will target to form government on October 31.
With incumbent LNP MP Simone Wilson stepping down, the Moreton Bay-based electorate – which includes Bribie Island and Caboolture – will be voting for its fourth new MP in as many terms.
More pelican roosts will be installed along the Bribie Island Bridge
People power wins fight to bring pelicans back to Bribie Island bridge
The LNP has drafted speech pathologist and former Balonne Shire councillor Fiona Gaske as its candidate to defend the party’s wafer thin margin of less than one per cent.
Former small business owner, Ali King, who has also been a senior policy advisor for Health Minister Steven Miles, will fly the flag for Labor as the government tries to reclaim a seat it lost in 2017.
Ms Gaske said Bribie Island Road and the Bribie Island Bridge were “fairly significant issues” for the community, and pointed to a $7 million commitment the LNP has made to upgrade Beachmere Rd as well.
“I will be fighting for money for Bribie Island Road and I will be fighting for planning for the bridge as well,” she said.
“There are some pinch points there (at Ningi) that we need to look at.
“If you’re going to address the issues with the road, the bridge has to go with that.
“People are concerned about safety – so if there is an accident on the bridge and being able to get people on and off in a timely fashion.”
Ms Gaske said work on the proposed Beachmere Rd upgrade – which would include widening the road – would begin within the first year of an LNP government to drive job creation.
The LNP is also expected to make an environmental announcement for the electorate in the coming weeks, with Ms Gaske saying it was an important issue for locals.
Another local issue that made headlines in the electorate last year was the Transport and Main Roads installation of metal bars to stop pelicans from perching on new LED light posts along the Bribie Island Bridge.
Following protests, the State Government installed perches on the side of the light posts for the pelicans to perch on once again.
“Our incumbent member Simone Wilson lobbied hard to have the roosts restored,” Ms Gaske said.
Ms King also acknowledged there was a “really strong” community response to the pelican deterrents.
“I really don’t know what consultation there was or wasn’t,” she said.
“I assume that in other communities people haven’t been concerned, but this community is different and people were very concerned.
“Bribie has a really special relationship with those pelicans.”
She said she also lobbied Transport Minister Mark Bailey to find a solution.
Ms King said the single most raised issue from locals in the community was the borders.
“They’re just so glad that the borders are shut,” the Labor candidate said.
“Many of them know that they’re at high risk due to age or health issues and the border closures are making them feel safe.
“I think that right now, the government’s not really talking about election commitments.
“It’s very focused on managing the pandemic response and getting the economic recovery plan in place.”
Ms King said the government had already delivered investments for the community, and pointed to Bruce Highway upgrades and the Caboolture Hospital redevelopment.
She said works were already underway on upgrading Bribie Island Rd, with funding from both the federal and state governments.
“I’ll keep lobbying and fighting to get infrastructure,” Ms King said.
Ms Gaske said she and her family moved from the Balonne Shire earlier this year to the Pumicestone community for a “lifestyle change”.
“The community have been very welcoming and I have been able to find a point of connection with everyone that I talk to,” she said.
“I’ve had great support since moving here and have met some amazing people – a lot of whom have come from rural and regional connections.”
Ms King, who ran as Labor’s candidate for the Indooroopilly-based seated of Maiwar in 2017, said she moved to the electorate a couple of years ago to be closer to her parents.
“Health and jobs and education and everything that Labor governments do are just really important here,” she said.
“I’ve connected with thousands and thousands of people in the area.”
One Nation preferences could prove crucial in the electorate.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IMPORTANT
Pumicestone needs a candidate “who will stick their neck out for nature” after a Pelican roosting saga saw Bribie Island’s favourite birds deprived of a home.
Chris Wilson spearheaded a protest of more than 1000 concerned locals and environmentalists in 2019 which resulted in the reinstalment of pelican roosts on the Bribie Island bridge after anti-roosting devices were fitted to streetlights earlier that year.
With the Bridge expected to be widened from two to four lanes, Ms Wilson said its important pelicans don’t lose their perches again.
Ms Wilson said the widening of the two-lane bridge was “important for emergency services” access, but hoped Pumicestone's next candidate would vouch for the seabirds and their iconic perches.
“For 27 years, since the bridge has been there, they have used that bridge as perching,” she said.
“The island is a wildlife sanctuary and the bridge is the beginning of that sanctuary,” she said.
“It’s very important to the wellbeing of locals to have those birds up there.”
“We have to look at the plans and see that the roosts are there for our birds,”
With other environmental issues currently emerging – such as local wildlife becoming stuck in barbed wire – Ms Wilson said “we need to look at the things that are really injuring these animals.”
And a candidate who will “stick their neck out” for the island’s animals.
election, with the minor party securing 23.3 per cent of the primary vote at the 2017 election.